Hi everyone,

Well… according to the calendar it’s summer, but someone clearly forgot to tell the weather gods. Snow dusting the Remarkables, a chill in the air, and yet somehow the golf on course was anything but frosty. Our first Summer Casual Club Day delivered laughs, birdies by the flock, and one or two moments that will be retold all summer long.

Despite the wintery backdrop, the scoring was red-hot — and it all started at the top of the leaderboard.

Overall Stableford – Summer Casual Club Day

1st – Bill Grant – 40 points – $40
Bill was on an absolute tear, setting the pace early and never letting go. Calm, composed, and clearly enjoying the conditions, he was the man everyone was chasing.

2nd – Jeri Elliot – 39 points – $35

3rd – James Sowerby – 38 points – $30
4th – Andy Lowe – 38 points – $30
5th – Fraser MacLachlan – 38 points – $30
6th – Marti Groves – 38 points – $30
7th – Gavin Hastings – 38 points – $30

A logjam just behind the leader, with Fraser firmly among it — and doing much more than just scoring points…

Fraser’s Feathered Frenzy

If there was a wildlife documentary being filmed today, Fraser MacLachlan would have been the star.
He rounded up seven birdies in total — birds of the feathered variety left, right, and centre.

But the standout moment came on Hole 8 (Par 4):

• Drive

• Chip

• No putt required

An eagle 2, and a massive recovery considering Fraser had apparently greeted Hole 7 with a shank shortly beforehand. Proof, if ever it was needed, that it happens to the best of us — and redemption is never far away.

That eagle also landed Fraser the Two’s Jackpot:

• 2 on a Par 4 (Hole 8) – $30 credit

Twos Club – Where They Happened $7 each

The twos were well spread, and here’s where the magic happened:

• Hole 7 – Reuben Williams-Warren, Gavin Hastings

• Hole 8 – Fraser MacLachlan (Par 4 – Eagle 2!)

• Hole 11 – Roger Hudson, Corey Sinteur, Max MacLachlan, John “Boggy” McDowell, James Sowerby

• Hole 14 – Nathan Bradley

• Hole 17 – Adam Dawson

Plenty of tidy tee shots — and one truly memorable par-4 special.

Nearest the Pins

Accuracy was on show on the short holes:

• Hole 11 – Fraser MacLachlan

• Hole 17 – James Sowerby

Two very solid strikes earning Neat Meat vouchers and bragging rights.

Longest Putt – Hole 9

The award for longest putt went to Bruce Cunningham — or as it’s now known, B.Y.C:
Bring Your Own Cheerleader? or we could come up with a lot of other acronyms- competition time maybe?

Not the longest putt ever recorded, but with a tricky pin position and plenty of movement, it was more than long enough to claim the Neat Meat voucher and a knowing nod from the gallery.

Net Eagles Draw – Hole 3

Euan Wilson summed it up perfectly when he said his highlight of the day was birdying Hole 3 — which just happened to be drawn for the Net Eagles prize.

• Net Eagles Draw – Hole 3

  • Euan Wilson

  • Lynda Baker

  • $40 each

As a wise man once put it: “It only takes one hole.”
Not a hole-in-one — but a very good hole to win on.

Birdies Draw – Hole 18

Birdies were drawn on the final hole, with the following players cashing in:

• Michael Wong

• James Sowerby

• Tom James

• Fraser MacLachlan

• David Harding

• Darren Hill

• Joel Hasselman

• Ross McFarlane

A fitting finish to a day where birdies were everywhere.

By the Numbers

• 54 birdies across the field

• Nearly half of them came from just three players:

  • Fraser MacLachlan

  • Roger Hudson

  • Tom James

When the course gives you chances, someone has to take them — and these three certainly did.

Wrapping It Up

Snow on the mountains, birdies on the scorecards, and smiles all round — a perfect way to kick off our Summer Casual Club Days, even if summer hasn’t quite arrived yet.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, and we look forward to seeing those of you who aren’t escaping for a break back out on the course on the 27th.

Until then — keep warm, keep swinging, and remember… it only takes one hole.